Wisdom of Folly

CHAPTER 1

Jokes of Mulla Nasruddin
Dedication written on July 21, 1971

1.
A rich farmer had been trying desperately to marry off his daughters. One day he met Mulla
Nasrudin.
”I have several daughters,” the farmer told the Mulla. ”I would like to see them comfortably fixed. And
I will say this, they won’t go to their husbands without a little bit in the bank, either. The youngest
one is twenty-three and she will take Rupees 25,000 with her. The next one is thirty-two, and she
will take Rupees 50,000 with her. Another is forty-three and she will take Rupees 75,000 with her.”
”That’s interesting,” said Nasrudin. ”I was just wondering if you have one about fifty years old.”

2.
Mulla Nasrudin’s family was upset because the girl he was planning to marry was an atheist.
”We’ll not have you marrying an atheist,” his mother said.
”What can I do? I love her,” the young Nasrudin said.
”Well,” said his mother, ”if she loves you, she will do anything you ask. You should talk religion to
her. If you are persistent, you can win her over.”
Several weeks went by, then one morning at breakfast the young Mulla seemed absolutely
brokenhearted.”What’s the matter?” his mother asked. ”I thought you were making such good progress in your talks
about religion to your young girlfriend.”
”THAT’S THE TROUBLE,” said Nasrudin. I OVER DID IT. LAST NIGHT SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS
SO CONVINCED THAT SHE IS GOING TO STUDY TO BE A NUN.”

3.
The young lady’s hopes had been high for two years while Mulla Nasrudin remained silent on the
question of marriage. Then one evening he said to her, ”I had a most unusual dream last night. I
dreamed that I asked to marry you. I wonder what that means.”
”THAT MEANS,” said his girlfriend, ”THAT YOU HAVE MORE SENSE ASLEEP THAN YOU HAVE
AWAKE.”

4.
Mulla Nasrudin had been calling on his girlfriend for over a year. One evening the girl’s father stopped
him as he was leaving and asked, ”Look here, young man, you have been seeing my daughter for a
year now, and I would like to know whether your intentions are honorable or dishonorable?”
Nasrudin’s face lit up. ”DO YOU MEAN TO SAY, SIR,” he said, ”THAT I HAVE A CHOICE?”

5.
Mulla Nasrudin’s mother, worrying about her son’s safety, said to him:
”Didn’t I say you should not let that girl come over to your room last night? You know how things like
that worry me.”
”But I didn’t invite her to my room,” said Nasrudin. ”I went over to her room. NOW YOU CAN LET
HER MOTHER DO THE WORRYING.”

6.
”Well, young man, I understand you want to become my son-in-law,” said the father to his daughter’s
boyfriend, Mulla Nasrudin.
”NO, SIR, NOT EXACTLY,” replied Nasrudin. ”BUT IF I MARRY YOUR DAUGHTER, I DON’T SEE
HOW I CAN GET OUT OF IT.”

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